EC imposes fresh restrictions on Guj Govt, ban transfers

Ahmedabad, Oct 12 (UNI) Determined to hold free and fair assembly elections in Gujarat, the Election Commission (EC) today directed the Gujarat government to remove all government hoardings or banners from the state and also imposed a ban on backdated transfers and appointments of officials.

It has also asked the state government not to hold any review meetings by ministers and senior government officials.

The Commission has asked Chief Secretary and DGP to initiate action for sealing the borders with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra on the polling days -- December 11 and 16 -- to prevent bogus voting, entry of miscreants, liquor and unauthorised arms in the state.

The Commission has also asked the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police to remove all banners and paint the walls, on which communal writing was written by certain groups.

The three-member Commission, headed by N Gopalaswamy, gave these directions to the state officials after holding meetings with them and all the major political parties in the past two days.

The Commission reviewed law and order in the state and also directed to expedite the pace of distributing Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to voters and complete before October 22 so that the EPIC coverage can rise to 84 per cent from the present 81 per cent.

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